Czech news in brief for August 25: Tuesday's top afternoon headlines

Good afternoon, Russian authorities are preparing to hold elections next month and have asked the Czech Republic to guarantee security around its embassy building. In other news, Albert's fines for "fake discounts" stand, and the Czech Philharmonic gears up for a busy new season.

Russia has asked Czech authorities to provide security measures at its embassy in Prague during the upcoming September elections for the Russian State Duma, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said today. "This is standard practice, that does not deviate from similar situations", the ministry stated.

Top of the list. According to Maxim Rajder, a special envoy at the Russian Foreign Ministry, the countries that are causing the greatest concern as regards to safety measures for the elections are the Baltic states, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic - because, he said, "there is a lot of space for pro-Ukrainian activists here".

The Constitutional Court has dismissed supermarket chain Albert's legal claims against fines it received for so-called "fake discounts". Imposed by the Czech Trade Inspection over Albert's misleading discount practices to make its prices look more attractive and in violation of Czech consumer protection rules, the fines in question reached about half a million Czech crowns.

EU influence. Throughout the proceedings, lower Czech courts largely relied on EU legal precedents, according to which "the information provided about the discounts must be understandable, transparent, credible, and at the same time, must not distort the average consumer's perception of the discount's benefits".

The Czech population's trust in the healthcare system has been growing in recent years, reaching 74 percent of people overall satisfied, according to the latest data from the Stada Health Report 2026. The European average stands significantly lower at 56 percent.

Main concerns. Among their main worries, Czechs are most concerned about long waiting times to get medical appointments due to a shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals. More than half of respondents also said they're worried about the rise in obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, and two-thirds of Czechs are in general afraid of aging (one of the highest shares in Europe).

The 131st season of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off next week with three concerts from September 1-3 held at the Rudolfinum. Under the baton of conductor Semyon Bychkov, Czechia's foremost philharmonic orchestra will perform symphonies by Shostakovich and Dvořák accompanied by Canadian soloist Karen Gomyo.

TV broadcast. For those who won't be able make it, the September 1 concert will be broadcast with a short delay on Czech Television's art channel.

The Kámen Castle in the Pelhřimov district will reopen its doors to the public this Saturday after extensive three-year renovations worth nearly CZK 100 million. Originally a Gothic castle, it was built at the turn of the 13th and 14 centuries, and has been owned by the Vysočina region since 2003.

Free for all. The opening day on Saturday will be free for all visitors. If you miss out, don't forget that more than 100 state-run castles and chateaux will be free on August 30 and September 27 this year.